Apparatus for handling, mixing, and pouring concrete



Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,762

H. P. PARIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING, MIXING, AND POURING CONCRETE Filed Nov. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I R I; .1

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1,657,762 H. P. PARIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING, MIXING, AND POURING CONCRETE Filed Nov. 5. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet I I N 1 8 n 5 3. o g? \1 & I 1 1 N -1' by v H o gj mmto'c ugh P Paris.

Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, HUGH PARK PARIS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNI ASSIGNMENTS, TO PARIS TRANSIT MIXER CO., A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING; MIXING, AND POURING CONCRETE.

- Application filed November 5, 1925. Serial No. 67,128.

My invention relates to the handling of concrete and especially to a method and plant whereby concrete can be delivered in large quantities to the job, ready for pouring, without the necessity of employing a concrete mixer on the job, and in such con- .dition that the concrete is made ready by the time it reaches the spot where it is to be poured.

Applied to road building, my invention has for its object the provision of a method, a plant, and apparatus for putting the method into operation, whereby the constituent materialssand, gravel, cement and water-can be assembled at a convenient central spot located conveniently to the roadway, but not dumped at intervals along the right-of-way, and whereby these materials are conveyed to the end of the road way, being picked up as the raw materials and being delivered to the job as readymixed concrete in a completely homogeneous and thoroughly mixed condition, ready for pouring, thus eliminating the employment of large gangs to load a concrete mixer at the job, and enabling very-rapid laying of the roadway by a small number of men.

' Thus it will be seen that my invention in a more general aspect, relates to the handling, mixing and pouring of concrete, whereby the various raw materials are loaded upon a single vehicle a truck and trailer being of course the equivalent), and conveyed therein to a point of use, the materials being mixed in transit,-and being delivered at the oint of use, ready to pour at once in the molds. i

My invention comprises the novel process and plant as illustrated in diagrammatic form inv the drawings, and the novel apparatus also shown in the drawings,- both-as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my apparatus ina form which is now preferred by me, it being understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a typical plant" employed in the construction of a roadway,

illustrating the process of layingthe same according to my improved method;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a combined truck and mixer employed in carrying out my process; and

Figure 3 is a section on'the line 3-3 0 Figure 2. g

- ne of the most serious problems in concrete construction is the elimination of the large number of laborers required in the handling of the materials in feedin the concrete mixers. A small number 0 only is required in spreading and finishing concrete in roadways or in tamping it in building constructlons, but for supplying the concrete mixer with the materials going into the concrete, according to the methods now in use, large numbers of wheelbarrow men and shovelers must beemployed'. It has been proposed to eliminate these laborers by supplying concrete ready mixed from a central plant, carrying it in this condition to the ]0 It has been found unsatisfactory, howeyer, for the reason that the concrete, containing materials of various gravities,

-will separate into strata, the separation being caused merely by the gentle agitation asa truck or hopper load of the material is being transported over quite short distances. The result is that the concrete thus deliv-' ered is not homogeneous and is not thoroughly mixed throughout. The resulting concrete is of poor quality, with large interstices not filled with sand between the gravel, and with too much sand in other spots.

According to my process I propose to supply what are, in effect, traveling concrete mixers with the materials going into-the concrete, such as sand, gravel, cement and water, to transport these materials to the job in such trucks, to cause the mixers, as. the trucks approach the job, to mix the materials thoroughly, arriving at the job with the mixing 'completedbut continuing, and dumping the material immediately from the mixer in a condition ready for pouring or spreading. Thus, by the employment of central bunkers the materials may-be hanmen I condition, handling them once only, at the bunkers, where the greatest economy in han dling can be effected.

Referring to Figure 1, the bunkers B may be served by a spur line S of the main line railroad R. The right-of-way A of the road to be laid may pass near the bunkers B and may be connected thereto by a temporary roadway C. Trucks, T, in the nature of traveling concrete mixers, and the construction of which will be described more fully hereafter, ply between the bunkers B (a water tank D being located nearby) and the end E of the finished roadway. Several such trucks may be employed, more beingemployed as the distance from the bunkers to the end of the roadway increases. At the end of the roadway E only sufficient workmen W need to be employed as are required to handle, spread and finish the material asit is dumped on the ground. Such men are requiredin any instance with the methods now in use, but it will be observed that the materials may be delivered to the bunkers B by dump cars from the railroad and may be delivered to the trucks T without handling by workmen. Thus, practicallyall unskillled manual laborersmay bedispensed wit Y Bunkers may be set up at distances, perhaps of'every ten miles along the right of way, and trucks willtransport the material five miles in either direction from the bunkers to the end of the roadway; These can be arranged to carr up to three yards of material without di culty, and to/mix these materials while travelingor as they approach the end of the roadwa This mixin need only continue two or t ree minutes. ence the driver can arrangeto start the mixing when within a distance that he can cover in two or three minutes from the end of the roadway. The result will be that he delivers his material thoroughly and freshly mixed and ready for pourin at the end of the road way, dumps it rapi ly and returns to the bunkers for another load. The same method can be employed for structural work, the load of mixed concrete bein delivered to an elevator or like conveyor to delivered immediately to the forms.

As illustrating the apparatus which might be employed in carrying out such a process,

as applied to road construction, I have shown the truck illustrated in Figures .2 and 3. The chassis, running gear, power plant and the like may all be of standard design. Mounted upon the chassisl isa suplemental dumping frame" 2, the two frames eing connected for dumping, as by aPIVOt at 21 at the rear end of the chassis. Upon the frame 2 is mounted a mixing cylinder 3. This is suitably supported. tov rotate, and may be rovided with the flanged rings engaged y pairs of rollers 4, the rollers being secured upon longitudinal shafts 40, one at each side of the frame 2, and supported in suitable bearings 41. Rotation of the shafts is secured by means of com lemental clutch elements 42 and 43, secure respectively upon the end of the shaft 40 and upon the end of a stub shaft 44, supported from the chassis l or upon a platform 10, secured thereto. Rotation of the shafts 44 from the vehicle engine or running gear may be obtained by means of sprockets 45 upon the stub shafts 44, connected by chains 46 to sprockets 14 upon the drive shaft 11 of the truck. Many trucks are now provided with a power take-01f from the transmission, or are arranged in such a way that power may be taken from the drive shaft itself. Power can, therefore, be supplied to the shafts 44 in any way found convenient, and adaptable to the particular truck employed.

Control of the clutch element 43 may be secured through a suitable lever 47 arranged within reach of the drivers seat. This is engaged while the truck is en route to the job, and must be disengaged from the element 42 prior to dumpin of the materials from the mixer 3. For umping any suitable arrangement may be provided, such as the power hoist now commonly employed, or any suitable hand hoist. As this forms no partof my present invention, I have shown a winch 5 having a cable 51 wound thereon and passing over a pulley 52 at the top of a standard 53, the end of the cable being suitably attached to the swinging end of the dumping frame 2.

Inasmuch as the mixer cylinder 3 merely rests upon the cradle formed by the rollers 4, means must be provided to retain it in position, and as indicative of such means I have provided a band 6 secured to the dumping frame 2 and encircling the upper part of the cylinder, and having rollers mounted therein in position to engage the cylinder 3 if thelatter is displaced from its normal positioh. Normally, however, the rollers 60 will not contact with the mixer. Any suitable arrangement of such retaining frame or hands may be employed and any suitable construction thereof which will serve the purpose may be used.

Water must be carried on the truck, and for this purpose I have shown a tank 15 mountedupon the drivers cab 13, and connecting through a valve 16 in convenient reach of the driver, andby a flexible hose 17, to the interior of the mixer 3.

Materials are delivered into the open end of the cylinder 3 and are carried therein as the truck moves toward thejob. Water is supplied from the storage tank D to the tank 15 on the truck at the same time. When within a short distance of the job the clutch elements 42 and 43.may be engaged by the driver as the truck continues to move, and

therein. Water is-then supplied by op the valve 16, and when the truck arrives at a mixing element mounted Qconventional automobile vehicle,

the job, the concrete is fresh and ready to pour, wet, and thoroughly mixed. It may continue to mix if the truck for any reason must stand still, as the power take-off would be so arranged that it is connected with a part of the transmission which continues to rotate under such circumstances. When ready to dump, the winch 5 is brought into operation, the forward end of the frame 2 with its cylinder 3 is up-turned, and the mixed concrete is released from the rear "end of the cylinder. v 1

The speed of rotation of the cylinder 3 may be arranged to suit the speed of the truck. Ordinarily such trucks will travel at perhaps 15 miles an hour loaded, and the gearing can be arranged. to turn the cylinder 3 at a speed of perhaps 15 revolutions a minute. If the speed reduction in the transmission, plus the speed reduction in the sprockets 14 and 45 and plus the reduction obtainable by the use of small rollers 4 to drive the drum, is not sufficient, it :will be obvious that speed reduction gearing can be interposed in the drive to therollers 4, preferably on the platformv 10. This, however, s a matter of mere mechanical detail, and it will be understood that the speed of rotation of the drum 3' will be sufficient to secure the most efiicient mixing at the normal speed of the vehicle. If the power take-off be more directly connected to the engine than through the drive shaft connecting the transm ssion to the differential gearing, it will be largely independent of the speed of the truck. I The bunkers B have been shown as of the gravity type, but it should be observed that these are merely typical of a storage and loading station, and that ithe term as used herein is to havin that meaning. The invention is not depen ent on the employment of any particular type of bunker, and would effect an economy even were the materials loaded-by hand from large centrally located-piles. This would eliminate haulage from central bunkers to "the job in gravel trucks, and dumping in separa picked up for loading into the mixer at the end of the roadway.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A transit concrete mixer comprising an tiltably supported upon the vehicle frame,

upon said supplemental frame, means on said supplemental frame for securing said mixing element thereon, drive means operativelyconnecting ening' "mental frame for be understood a ed piles, to be again a. supplemental frame said mixing element with the vehicle drive.

mechanism, and including clutch elements di sconnectible to permit substantial elevation of the supplemental frame and mixing element, for dumping.

ing to permit hoisting of the supplemental frame and mixing cylinder for dumping.

3. A transit concrete mixer comprising an automotive road vehicle, a supplemental frame tiltably supported upon the vehicle frame, a mixing cylinder cradled in said supplemental frame, a hoist for tilting said dumpin frame and the mixing cylmder, means or rotating said cylinder from the vehicles power plant, including two shaft sections, one on the vehicle frame and one on the supplemental frame, complemental clutch elements upon the respective sections, and disengageable to permit hoisting of the supplemental frame and mixing cylinder for dumping, and means carried by said supplesecuring said mixing cylinder, in position thereon while horizontal or while in dumping position.

4. A transit concrete mixer comprising a vehicle, a supplemental frame pivotally connected with the vehicle frame near its rear end, a rotative mixing; cylinder, meansfor supporting said mixing cylinder from said supplemental frame, and means for driving said: mixing cylinder from a portion of the vehicle which rotates as the vehicle is moving, said driving means including members separable prior to dumping to permit elevation of the supplemental frame.

.5. A transit concrete mixer comprising a vehicle, a supplemental frame connected at its rear end to the rear end of the vehicle frame, whereby the supplemental frame may be moved into dumping ositlon, a rotative mixing cylinder, means or supporting said mixing cylinder from the supplemental frame and for securing it thereupon when 'in transit, and drive means for said cylinder operativelyconnected -to a portion of the vehicle whichlrotates as the vehicle is moving, whereby the mixing cylinder may be rotated while in transit.

6. A transit concrete mixer comprising an auto truck, a supplemental frame supported on the truck chassis, means for moving said supplemental frame relative to the truck chassis into dumping posltion, a rotatlve with the vehicle en ine,

mixing cylinder,.means for supporting said cylinder from said supplemental frame, and drive means operatively connecting said mixing cylinder with the truck propelling means to permit rotation of said mixing cylinder while in transit.

7. A transit concrete mixer as in claim 6, said drive means including complemental members, one supported on the truck chassis and the other on the swinging end of the supplemental frame, engageable to rotate the cylinder and prior to dumping to permit the supplemental frame to be raised for dumping.

8. A transit concrete mixer as in claim 6, the drive means comprising a shaft mounted on the supplemental frame at each side of the mixing cylinder, rollers on said shafts and tracks on the cylinder engaged thereby, stub shafts supported from the truck chassis forward of the supplemental frame and each aligned with its respective shaft on the supplemental frame when the latter is in its normal running position, driving means connecting said stub shafts with the vehicle engine, and complemental clutch elements on the adjacent ends of the stub shafts and the aligned cylinder drive shafts, said clutch elements being disengageable to permit elevation of the supplemental frame and cylinder.

9. A transit concrete mixer as in claim 6, the drive means comprising a shaft mounted on the supplemental frame at each side of the mixing cylinder, rollers on said shafts and tracks on the cylinder engaged thereby, stub shafts supported from the truck chassis forward of the supplemental frame and each aligned with its respective shaft on the supplemental frame when the latter is in its normal running position, driving means connecting said stub shafts with the vehicle engine, complemental clutch elements on the adjacent ends of the stub shafts and the aligned cylinder drive shafts, said clutch elements being disengageable to permit elevation of the supplemental frame and c linder, and a retaining frame supporte on said supplemental frame and encircling the upper portion of said mixing cylinder.

10. A transit concrete mixer as in claim 6, the drive means comprising a shaft mounted onthe supplemental frame at each side of the mixing cylinder, rollers on said shafts and tracks on the cylinder engaged thereby, stub shafts supported from the truck chassis forward of the supplemental frame and each aligned with its respective shaft on the supplemental frame when the latter is in its normal running position, driving means connecting said stub shafts and complemental clutch elements on the adjacent ends of the stub shafts and the aligned cylinder drive shafts, said clutch elements beingdisengageable, to permit elevation of the supplemental frame and cylinder, and clutch control means located adjacent the drivers seat for operation while in transit.

11. A transit concrete mixer comprising an auto truck, a supplemental frame supported on the truck chassis and movable relative thereto into dumping position, a rotative mixing cylinder, means for supporting said cylinder from the supplemental frame, drive means operatively connecting said cylinder with the truck engine, means for elevating said supplemental frame and cylinder into dumping position, and a water tank carried upon said truck and communicating with the interior of said mixing cylinder.

12. A transit concrete mixer comprising an auto truck, a supplemental frame supported on the truck chassis and movable relative thereto into dumping position, a rotative mixing cylinder, means for supporting said cylinder from the'supplemental frame, drive means operatively connecting said cylinder with the truck engine and including eomplemental clutch elements supported respectively from the truck chassis and from the supplemental frame, means for elevating said supplemental frame and cylinder into dumping position, said clutch elements being discngageable to permit such elevation, a water tank carried upon said truck and communicating with the interior of said mixing cylinder, and clutch control means and water control means located adjacent the drivers seat for convenient operation while in transit.

13. A transit concrete mixer comprising an auto truck, a supplemental frame pivoted upon the rear end of the truck frame, a hoist for lifting said frame into dumping position, a rotative cylinder having a discharge opening at its rear end, and cradled on said supplemental frame, means for driving said cylinder from the trucks engine, a water tank separate from said cylinder, a water pipe from said tank communicating with the interior of said cylinder through its front end, and a valve in said water pipe located adjacent the drivers seat.

14. A transit concrete mixer comprising an auto truck, including the several wheels, the 'power plant, and drivers seat, a rotative mixing shell mounted on said truck,

drive means operatively connecting said.

shell with the trucks'power plant, a water tank carried .by said truck, and communicating with the interior of said cylinder, and means located adjacent the drivers seat for admitting water from said tank to the interior of said shell.

15. A transit concrete mixer comprising an auto, truck, including a chassis, drive and steering wheels therefor, the power plant, and the drivers seat, a rotative mixer shell mounted on said truck, drive means including complemental clutch elements, operatively connecting said shell with the trucks power plant, a water tank carried by said truck and a conduit connecting said water tank with the interior of said shell said conduit including a. portion. disposed adjacent the drivers seat, a control valve in said portion and o erable from the drivers seat, and means or controlling said clutch elements in the shell drive means :from the drivers seat.

16. A transit concrete mixer comprisin an auto truck, including a chassis, drive an steerin wheels therefor, the power plant, and t e drivers seat, a mlxer element mounted on said truck, drive means, including a clutch, operatively connecting said mixer element with the trucks power plant, and means located adjacent the drivers seat for. controlling said clutch, "whereby operation of the mixer element whileintransit. U v

17, A transit concrete mixer oomprisias an auto-truck, a cylindrical shall mean maybe controlled.

thereon to rotate upon a horizontal axis, and

mechanism whereb rotation can be imparte mixing e ement, said drive means including clutch elements disconnectable to ed to'th permit the elevation of the supplemental plemental frame inclined toward the rea of the automobile vehicle. t

. Signed at Seattle, King County,."Wash ington, thi u e day of October, 1925. A

HUGH mm; PARIS...

4s ame above the vehicle frame with the sup-- 

